Get ready to play the Masters on new Tiger Woods game

Augusta National is finally coming to the Tiger Woods PGA Tour videogame.

"Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters" hits store shelves March 29 for $49.99 and will be available for Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The PlayStation version will use the Move controller (no word if the Xbox version will be Kinect compatible).

Game maker EA SPORTS used what it called a "new state-of-the art laser scanning technology" to laser scan every hole at Augusta National Golf Club. This will allow what it feels are accurate representations of the Par 3 and the main golf course, down to the most minute detail. Players will see every tree, every azalea, and for many of us, this may be the closest we ever get to playing there.

A special PS3 "Collector's Edition" ($69.99) will also be released with the Masters plus five additional courses.

If you're a golf nut, like me, this will be a treat, to play Amen Corner and the famous 18th at Augusta National and to compete for a virtual green jacket.

In addition to (what I feel is) the world's best golf course, the new Tiger Woods game will have several enhancements, including Masters Moments, which allows players to play through famous tournament moments against tournament legends.

Other features:

· Tiger at the Masters – Relive each of Tiger’s four wins at the Masters by attempting to equal or beat his scores in each round of the Tournament.

· The Caddie Experience – Caddies will provide advice on every shot, helping players/gamers choose the right club and help read the greens.

· The new broadcast team of CBS Sports' Jim Nantz and David Feherty will handle the bulk of the commentary. CBS handles the real thing, too.

· Career Mode – The all-new career mode will closely mirror the journey of an amateur golfer’s rise through the ranks and chase the title of Masters champion.

· New Players: Over 20 professional golfers to choose from, including Zach Johnson (2007 Masters Champion) and Bubba Watson (2010 Ryder Cup – Team USA).

· Championship Courses – Take on the best of the best on sixteen of the world’s most celebrated courses, including Augusta National Golf Club, Royal Melbourne Golf Club (Australia), Atlanta Athletic Club, TPC San Antonio, St Andrews Links and Pebble Beach Golf Links.

New irons from TaylorMade, driver from Nike to stuff your golf fans stocking with

The gentleman’s game is one of the most popular recreational activities in the Carolinas and also one of the most frustrating. TaylorMade and Nike are making it a little easier to help those high handicappers on your list this season.

TaylorMade’s new Burner 2.0 irons can be used by good players and not-so good players (many clubs are for one group or the other). They’re lighter than standard clubs, so they are easier to swing. Because they’re lighter, you can swing faster without trying, making your ball go father and hopefully stay on the course.

They’re also designed to fly high, and land soft. This lets even the weekend hacker hit the occasional “oh my goodness” shot. Bonus, the sticks are so good, your golfing friend won’t need to buy those new-fangled clubs called hybrids, which kind of look like fairway woods, to replace his or her long irons.

Nike’s new SQ Machspeed Driver is pretty to look at and seems to correct many of your bad swings. It’s hard to really hit this one terribly. Bad swings produce good distance and aren’t as crooked as you might expect. Good swings produce better distance than with the driver you have (at least if you are like us), and you can adjust the head to help you if you hit the ball to the left or right too often. You can even adjust it to hit the ball a touch higher or lower. Who needs lessons anymore?

Nike's new Machspeed driver to hit stores next month

If you're a golfer who loves gadgets, you've got to love fall. That's when all the golf companies show off what their R&D departments have been cooking up all summer.

Nike today announced its new SQ MACHSPEED black driver, due Nov. 26. It is available with a round or square 460 cc head. It's designed to reduce air drag and has a deep face to still give golfers good distance on off center hits. It also has a lightweight shaft to increase swing speed.

Nike said it designed the head with a tall club face that tapers quickly, to increase forgiveness. All this results in a club with a slightly lower ballflight than last year's MACHSPEED model and one that spins less. That means your ball won't curve as much.

Men's lofts are available in 8.5 to 11.5. Women get an 11.5 and a high launch. MSRP is $359.99